Step-ladder



(NoModeL) D J. J. BALDWIN.

.STEP LADDER.

' No. 289,059. Patented N07; 27, 1883.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOSEPH J. BALDWIN, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STEP-LADDER.

SFEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,059, dated November 2'7, 1883.

Application filed September 19, 1883. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn; J. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in step-ladders, and has particular ref erence to the connections whereby the legs are jointed to the steps.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a rear view of the step-ladder, showing the legs spread. Fig. 2is a side view of same. Fig. 3 is a view, largerscale, of the bar and jointed connecting-irons.

Theletter A designates the side bars, and B the steps or rungs, of an ordinary ladder. The legs C have two branches, (1 e, at their upper ends. These branches are arranged with respect to each other substantially as shown in Letters Patent No. 283,555, granted me August 21, 1883; but I deem the means here shown for connecting and jointing the upper ends of these branched legs as superior, because thereby both a central and side pivot are employed at the same time, and when the ladder is set up there are both center and side bearings, which give it greater rigidity. A bar, D, has its ends journaled, as at f, and the jointed irons are attached to this bar. These parts constitute the feature of the pres- The upper ends of the steps are provided on each side with a bracket, E, having a hole which the journals f of the bar occupy. This forms a hinge to allow the iegs to be opened away from the ladder. A metal plate, F, is rigidly secured at the center of the bar D,one at each side of the bar. A pin, through the ends of these two plates constitutes the central pivot. At each end of the bar is a plate, G, having one end pivoted to the bar, a plate of this kind being on each side. A plate, I, is pivoted at its center between the twolink-plates G. Apin, It, through the ends of the two link-plates and'plate I constitutes the side pivot. The straight branch d of each leg is pivoted at i to the outer end of one of the plates I, and the diagonally-extended branch 0 is pivoted at k to the inner end of the opposite plate I., Thus the pivoted plates I connect the branch 6 of one leg with the branch [1 of the other. \Vhile this connecting-plate resembles the connectingplate shown in my former patent, it differs therefrom in the fact that it is itself pivoted at itscenter. The inner end of each pivoted connecting-plate I and each diagonally-extended branch 3 is connected to the central pivot, g, by the bar or plate J. This bar or plate J may be made of either wood or metal, and is secured rigidly to the upper end of the diagonal branch of the leg, and projects therefrom substantially at a right angle. When the legs are closed against the ladder, the straight branches (I extend along the side bars, 'A, as indicated in Fig. lby brokenhnes. Thus it will be seen the legs are adapted, like those shown in my former patent, to be spread apart at the bottom laterally, and therefore are specially suited for highladders.

The position shown in Fig. 3 of the jointed connecting-irons is that which they assume when the legs are spread apart, while the position they assume when the legs are closed against the ladder is indicated in the same figure by broken lines.

A cord, a, is employed to limit the legs from spreading too far away from the steps. A block, 1), isinserted between the two branches of each leg, and is there secured, serving by binding them together to give them greater rigidity.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1 1. A step-ladder having legs with two branches, a bar, D, provided with journaled ends, which form a leg-hinge with the ladder, and having at each end link-plates G, and plates I, pivoted to the link-plates, and connecting the diagonal branch of one leg with the straight branch of the other, as set forth.

2. In a step-ladder, a bar having its ends journaled to form a leg-hinge, a central pivot-plate, F, rigidly secured to the bar, plates G, pivoted at each end of the bar, a )late, I, pivoted to the plates at each end, an bars J, connecting the inner end of both pivoted plates to the central pivot-plate, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. BALDWIN.

Witnesses: V Jno. T. Mnnnox, JNo. E. Monnrs. 

